Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford (1732-1792), Prime Minister. A skilled statesman, and Prime Minister at the age of 37, North was placed in office by George III to contend with the mounting crisis in the American colonies. His imposition of the Tea Tax and other repressive measures against the colonists lead to the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Despite his wish to resign when the war turned against Britain, the King kept him in office; afterwards he claimed to have felt more the agent of the King than a responsible adviser. Reference: The National Portrait Gallery
Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford after Unknown artist line engraving, published 1773
Reference: The National Portrait Gallery
Aquatint entitled ‘The Comet’ by James Sayers. The Prince of Wales is at the head of the Comet and behind him in its tail are Edmund Burke, Sir Grey Cooper, Edward Stanley Smith the Twelfth Earl of Derby, Charles James Fox, Frederick North the Second Earl of Guilford, Thomas Powys the First Baron of Lilford, William John Kerr the Fifth Marquess of Lothian, David Murray the Second Earl of Mansfield, Charles Howard the Eleventh Duke of Norfolk, William Henry Cavendish Bentinck the Third Duke of Portland, William Douglas the Fourth Duke of Queensberry, Alexander Wedderburn the First Earl of Rosslyn (Lord Loughborough), John Montagu the Fourth Earl of Sandwich, John Sawbridge, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, John Warren, Richard Watson and Christopher Wilson.
18th February 1789 (published)
Sayers, James, born 1748 – died 1823 (artist) Cornell, Thomas (publisher)
Reference: © Victoria and Albert Museum
Charles James Fox (1749-1806); Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford (1732-1792) ‘Paradise Lost’ by James Sayers (British, 1748–1823) Etching, published by Charles Bretherton, 17 July 1782 27.4 x 22.3cm (10¾ x 8¾in) (Plate)
Published in July 1782, the present lot shows Fox and North excluded from government after Fox’s controversial resignation that month.
Sold for £ 216 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2007
After Nathaniel Dance Portrait of Frederick, Lord North, 2nd Earl of Guilford, K.G. (1732-1793), three-quarter-length, seated, wearing the Chancellor’s gown and riband of the garter oil on canvas 46½ x 35 in. (118.1 x 88.8 cm.)
Sold for GBP 4,750 at Christie’s in 2008
